Photograph by Christian Heeb

World Heritage sites can be found on every continent in the world. Chosen for their natural or cultural signficance, these unique sites are protected and preserved by the countries—187, as of June 2010—that adhere to the World Heritage Convention.

Here, Victoria Falls—created by the Zambezi River plunging up to 324 feet (99 meters) into basalt gorges—stretches from southern Zambia into Zimbabwe. The Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage site includes a conservation area covering 7,142 square miles (18,500 square kilometers).